After Her Last Straw (Dream Series #1)

Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Apology
Zanashi

What I did yesterday to my two blockmates has become the highlight of this morning. Right after I enter our university, group of students were already staring at me— and I meant their eyes were like sending daggers to my whole existence. Students from other department are no exception. Siguro'y kakilala ang mga nakasagutan ko kahapon.

I first entered the locker area to leave my book for this afternoon's session that I brought home yesterday. Iiwan lang at babalikan din mamayang lunch. Sinadya kong dalhin ito pauwi para mapag-aralan ko ang next lessons namin.

Rest? Obviously not in my vocabulary. Studying has been part of my every night routine, may quiz man o wala. We don't even know how our professors think, so studying and reading in advance actually gives me a peaceful feeling.

They totally love surprises and I, as a student who doesn't like being surprised without any weapon, always made sure that I've read enough before entering our classroom.

I couldn't come to class unprepared. Being humiliated in front of those people who were waiting for my failure is the last thing I wanted to happen.

"She definitely snapped yesterday," natatawang sabi ng isang estudyante malapit sa akin.

"Gosh. May mga kakilala naman akong matalino pero hindi kasing yabang ng isang 'yan," medyo malakas na tugon ng kanyang kasama, tila ba sinisiguradong maririnig ko ito.

I just mind my own business. If they would talk about me, okay. If they would make snide remarks about me, okay. That's their opinion. It's not like I have that certain responsibility to correct them from what they are thinking. Walang magbabago kahit gawin ko iyon. Mas paniniwalaan pa rin nila ang gusto nilang paniwalaan kahit na hindi naman ito totoo.

Correcting them is like forcing them not to eat their favorite food that's already served on the table. Nakahain na eh, tatanggihan pa ba?

On my way to our classroom, gano'n pa rin ang naririnig ko. Kung naging maingay ang issue na ito sa ibang department, ano pa kaya sa department namin?

Ang hindi ko lang nagustuhan ay ang pagbabago ng kwento. May dinagdag at may binawas, making me appeared as a total villain in the story. Tulad na lamang ng sinabi sa akin ng lalaking kaibigan ni Sulivan nang makasabay ko ito papuntang classroom.

"You didn't say that, right?" agad nitong tanong sa akin nang maabutan niya ako. Kanina pa niya ako tinatawag pero hindi ako huminto para lingunin siya.

"Say what?"

"Oh, cut the crap, Aphra. I know you know what I'm talking about."

Di ko siya pinansin at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. Di rin siya nagpatinag at nagpatuloy sa kanyang mga sinasabi.

"Wala namang masama kung sabihin mo ang opinyon mo pero ang isali si Sulivan sa usapan, iba na iyon."

Ako ba ang nagsali sa kanya sa usapan?

"Look, wala siyang ibang ginawa kundi ang tulungan kami. Wala kang karapatang sabihan siyang pabida at mandaraya. Hindi porke mas mataas siya sayo last semester ay sisiraan mo na siya. Grow up, Aphra. We're already in college but you're acting like your stuck from being an elementary student. So immature!"

Tumigil ako sa paglalakad at humarap sa kanya.

"For a college student like you," tiningnan ko siya mula ulo hanggang paa. "You sure have a lot of irrelevant things to say. Very mature, indeed."

Tingin ko'y nainsulto siya sa ginawa ko pero kung iyon lang naman ang pag-uusapan, wala nang paglalagyan pa ang insultong natanggap ko sa kanya. Paalis na ako nang bigla niya akong hilain pabalik. Hindi ko naitago ang gulat sa mukha ko nang dahil sa ginawa niya. Naramdaman ko ang higpit ng hawak niya sa braso ko.